24... [Peter] arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was waiting for him, together with relatives and close friends that he had invited... 27... where he found many people gathered... 33... Now we are all here in the presence of God, waiting to hear anything that the Lord has instructed you to say." 34 Peter began to speak: "I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis. 35 Those who fear Him and do what is right are acceptable to Him, no matter what race they belong to. 36 You know the message He sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know of the great event that took place throughout the land of Israel, beginning in Galilee after John preached his message of baptism. 38 You know about Jesus of Nazareth and how God poured out on Him the Holy Spirit and power. He went everywhere, doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, for God was with Him. 39 We are witnesses of everything that He did in the land of Israel and in Jerusalem. Then they put Him to death by nailing Him to a cross. 40 But God raised Him from death three days later and caused Him to appear, 41 not to everyone, but only to the witnesses that God had already chosen, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from death. 42 And He commanded us to preach the gospel to the people and to testify that He is the one whom God has appointed judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets spoke about Him, saying that all who believe in Him will have their sins forgiven through the power of His Name."
44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening to his message. 45 The Jewish believers who had come from Joppa with Peter were amazed that God had poured out his gift of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speaking in strange tongues and praising God's greatness. Peter spoke up: 47 "These people have received the Holy Spirit, just as we also did. Can anyone, then, stop them from being baptized with water?" 48 So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay with them for a few days.
Wow, that was amazing! And it's amazing to me too that Cornelius, a Roman, who probably grew up in the Roman culture which didn't know God, not only knew Him, but knew Him at a profound level. He was always talking to God and ever mindful of our being in His presence constantly. It makes one think twice about how one should behave, remembering that we are always before God and live out our lives on a stage -- as Paul puts it, we are surrounded by a large crowd of witnesses. I want to be like Cornelius, ever mindful of the Lord. It's so easy to get sidetracked in this world and take our focus off of Him. But that leads to a lesser relationship with God, and a lesser life as well. Cornelius is awesome. I must get back to living like that!
Dream Cars. If God wills it, someday I shall have these two cars. :D
Lamborghini Countach
Pontiac Trans Am
The new music is a sample from the song The Ring Goes South provided by soundtrack.net. The photographs are from ultimateperformancecar.com and memimag.cardomain.net, respectively. :)
